Hearing the Salvation Message through Malchus’ Ear
- Save a Soul, Pass a Gospel Tract
- Nov 1
- 7 min read
Luke 22:47-51 King James Version
47 And while he yet spake, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him.
48 But Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?
49 When they which were about him saw what would follow, they said unto him, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?
50 And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
51 And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
This is the part of the passage after Jesus Christ and His disciples had performed the Feast of Unleavened Bread also called the Passover and this is after Jesus Christ prayed to God the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. This passage is when Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver and led the high priests and their servant to arrest Jesus.
In verse 49, the disciples were ready to defend Jesus Christ to prevent the high priests’ servants from arresting Him. In verse 50 it says “And one of them (one of the disciples) smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.” Luke did not mention his name but in the book of John we know it was Simon Peter that cutoff of one of the servant’s right ear and it mentions that servant’s name was Malchus
John 18:10 King James Version
“Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus.”
Because of Simon Peter’s haste and rash decision for chopping off the servant of the high priest, he became liable for the injury that he had caused and would probably face capital punishment according to the Law, because that is no ordinary servant that he had cause harm, but the servant of the high priest.
Example of Retribution according to the Law
Leviticus 24:20 King James Version
“Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.”
Many times in our lives we make bad decisions, maybe out of haste, out of extreme emotions or because we lack wisdom, knowledge, or experience to address the situation even though we may think it is the right thing to do or the only thing we know what to do, but we usually never considered what the consequences of our actions will be, only when after the deed was already finished, which is why the Bible warned us about this and also reminds us that our own self-righteousness is comparable to a filthy rag.
Proverbs 14:12 King James Version
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Isaiah 64:6 King James Version
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”
In the case of Simon Peter, the Bible already spoke about His blind zeal to Jesus Christ upon prophesying His own death at the hands of the elders, chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem.
Matthew 16:21-22 King James Version
21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
Even though Peter may have thought his zeal, his loyalty, his pledge to protect Him would please Him, Jesus Christ still rebukes Peter, saying:
Matthew 16:23 King James Version
“But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
Jesus Christ exposes Peter's heart and motivation is not right with the Lord, it goes against God's plan of Salvation, it goes against the prophesies that have been foretold in Isaiah 53, that Jesus Christ had to die and bare our sins and take away to ultimate punishment of sin which is Hell and the fiery furnace of the lake of fire which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).
So how can the initial passage in Luke 22:50-51 be an illustration of Salvation? Simon Peter having committed a crime could face a harsh punishment from the high priest for chopping the ear of one of their servant. As Jesus Christ warned in Matthew 26 that Peter could face a capital punishment of death for what he had done
Matthew 26:52 King James Version
“Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
This verse reminds us that the wages of our sin is death in Romans 6:23, it is a painful debt that we owe for rebelling against God and it must be paid.
Romans 6:23 King James Version
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
We all someday face death, but Jesus Christ, out of His grace and mercy can grant us eternal life through Him, He sacrificed His life in order for us to live, which is illustrated when Jesus Christ placed Malchus’ ear back and fully healed it, removing any evidence of the crime committed by Simon Peter, yes the high priest and everyone there knew what Simon Peter did to Malchus earlier, but they can no longer charge a crime against him. This is exactly what Jesus Christ plan of Salvation is, to save us according to his mercy and not by our own merit or works.
Titus 3:5 King James Version
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Ephesians 2:8-9 King James Version
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
And once we are saved there is no more condemnation against us, just like what happened to Simon Peter after Jesus Christ removed any evidence that he cutoff Malchus’ ear.
Romans 8:1 King James Version
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Jesus Christ is the only one that can take away our sins, removing any evidences that we have ever committed them so we can appear righteous in the eyes of God in Heaven.
2 Corinthians 5:21 King James Version
"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
No one else can do that, only Jesus Christ, God who manifest in the flesh.
Jesus Christ also had promised in John 17:12 to keep His disciples (except Judas) from being lost
John 17:12 King James Version
“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
This is the illustration of our Assurance of Salvation, once we are saved, we are sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise
Ephesians 1:13 King James Version
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, “
And nothing can pluck us out from God’s hands (John 10:28). Jesus Christ fulfilled His promised and had kept Simon Peter from being lost both literally (from severe punishment for his crimes against high priest’s servant) and spiritually (from Hell). That is His promise and God doesn’t break His covenant and promises to His people (Psalms 89:34), to His disciples and to those who are saved by grace through faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.
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2 Peter 3:9 King James Version
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
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How to go to Heaven? Find out in the short video below.
GOD's Simple Plan of Salvation
If you were to die today for any reason, are you 100% sure you will go to heaven?
This video explains the SIMPLE TRUTH according to the Scriptures. The only way to go to heaven is by:
(1) Admitting that you are a sinner
(2) Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior and Lord
(3) Repenting (meaning you are willing to turn away from your sins) of your sins then confessing your sins to God
Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed Himself and shed His precious blood on the cross as a substitute for you, so that you don't have to burn in hell for all eternity because of your sins, and have eternal life in heaven instead.
Watch the video to learn what Scripture says of God's great plan of salvation for you and how to receive His free gift. This is wonderful news. We pray you surrender to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and to know 100% for sure you will go to heaven when you die!
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